Fraternity house ransacked over break

The brothers of the Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity are calling for more University Police protection after nine out of 13 of the bedrooms in their house were ransacked over winter break. Residents of the house located at 38th and Walnut streets reported that a computer, a VCR, stereo, two bikes, an answering machine and a telephone were stolen. In addition, SAM Vice-President and College sophomore Abraham Fischer said a number of rooms were "trashed" and several doors would have to be replaced because they had been pried open by crowbars. "There has to be some greater deterrent to crime in the University community," College sophomore and SAM house resident Brendan Kalb said yesterday. "It is in the student's and in the University's best interest. "I feel the University should have some responsibility to maintain the safety of fraternity and sorority houses while students are away on break," College sophomore and SAM house resident Bobby Fingeroth added. The fraternity, however, did not utilize the Division of Public Safety's "special check" surveillance program, which is designed to combat burglaries over periods of low-occupancy, University Police Lieutenant Susan Holmes said. University Police periodically make exterior checks of the residences registered as part of the program. Fischer confirmed that the fraternity did not register for "special checks." He said he was unaware of the program's existence. Holmes said the burglar broke a window in the rear of the house to gain entry. On January 1, University Police observed a broken window and conducted an interior inspection of the house, finding all but four bedroom doors pried open, Holmes said. She added that University Police contacted Physical Plant to secure the window. The "special check" program was started after a rash of burglaries in High Rise North, the Quadrangle and several off-campus apartments over winter break two years ago. Since the program's inception, Public Safety has reported a significant decrease in burglaries. During Thanksgiving break, Holmes said that none of the 30 registered residences reported a theft. She added that statistics for winter break have not yet been complied.